Response to requests for contraception in one direct-to-consumer telemedicine service

Evaluation of telemedicine for contraceptive counseling given to pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic: A randomized controlled trial

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of telemedicine for contraceptive counseling on knowledge levels and satisfaction with Family Planning Services. We collected data from 77 third-trimester pregnant women using a personal information form, Family Planning Knowledge Questionnaire, and the Satisfaction with Family Planning Services Scale and compared the data using chi-square test, Fisher's exact chi-square test, t-test for independent and dependent groups and Mann-Whitney U analysis. The experimental group participants (n = 37) received two informative video visits for contraceptive counseling, while the women in the control group (n = 40) received routine face-to-face Family Planning Services at their primary health care center. Participants in the experimental group showed a greater increase in knowledge levels and higher satisfaction with Family Planning Services than those in the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we determined that telemedicine for contraceptive counseling is a promising option even beyond the pandemic.

Telemedicine and direct to consumer advertising attitudes and the future of telehealth: Women report telemedicine as a comfortable option for accessing birth control

PURPOSE

This paper addresses what variables predict and mediate relationships involving accessing telemedicine in the form of online birth control websites that are often advertised online on social media.

BASIC PROCEDURES

This is a survey study of N = 252 under 60 women (Mage = 24.71); multiple linear regression and mediation analyses were done to examine the influence of IBM variables on behavioral intentions.

MAIN FINDINGS

Women who currently use contraceptives report comfort and likelihood to use telemedicine services if they have positive attitudes about telemedicine and DTC advertising. Comfort with using an online contraceptive prescription service mediated the relationship between contraceptive use and likelihood to use telemedical services and between positive telemedicine attitudes and likelihood.

PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS

Women who are positive about telemedicine and DTC ads are comfortable using these resources, and comfort is a salient mediator. Comfort and its antecedents are important predictors and facilitators of telemedicine intentions and behaviors. Using telemedicine can improve the patient experience by offering alternatives to face-to-face visits (i.e., removing barriers to provider-to-patient communication).

Evaluation Model of Telemedicine Service Quality Based on Machine Sensing Vision

INTRODUCTION: At present, the common telemedicine service quality evaluation methods can not obtain the key evaluation indicators, which leads to the low accuracy and low user satisfaction. OBJECTIVES: This paper constructs a telemedicine service quality evaluation model based on machine vision technology. METHODS: Machine vision technology is used to obtain telemedicine service information, preliminarily select service quality assessment indicators, complete the selection of indicators, build a telemedicine service quality assessment indicator system, adopt subjective and objective combination method to calculate the weight of service quality assessment indicators, and combine matter element analysis method to build a telemedicine service quality assessment model. RESULTS: The experimental results show that the Cronhach a is higher than 0.7, the Barthel index is higher than 90, and the satisfaction of many users is more than 90%. CONCLUSION: The proposed method solves the problems existing in the current method and lays a foundation for the development of telemedicine service technology.

Perceptions of Infertility and Semen Analysis Testing Among American Men Without Children

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether health-conscious men are more likely to be concerned about infertility and self-initiate semen analysis at a laboratory/clinic or through a direct-to-consumer at-home product without a health care provider recommendation.

METHODS

Cross-sectional survey conducted online via ResearchMatch.org between November 2019 and January 2020. Men age 18 and older without children (n = 634) were included for analysis. Outcomes were likelihood of self-initiating a semen analysis, prevalence of infertility concern.

RESULTS

Of the 634 participants, 186 expressed concern about infertility but only 29% were likely to discuss these concerns with a health care provider. More men would self-initiate a semen analysis using an at-home product than through a traditional laboratory/clinic (14.2% vs 10.4%, P = .04). Odds of self-initiating a traditional semen analysis were higher for men concerned about low testosterone (odds ratio [OR] 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-4.74, P = .023) and infertility (OR 3.91, 95% CI 2.14-7.15, P <.001). Self-initiating an at-home semen analysis was associated with concern for low testosterone and infertility as well as middle age (age 40-59: OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.16-7.88, P = .024) and fitness tracker use (OR: 1.95, 95% CI 1.12-3.39, P = .018).

CONCLUSION

Many men were unlikely to discuss infertility concerns with a health care provider. Middle aged men and those who used fitness trackers were more likely to self-initiate fertility evaluation through at-home semen analysis. Concern about low serum testosterone was pervasive and strongly associated with concern for being infertile and self-initiating a semen analysis of any kind.

A Scoping Review of Unintended Pregnancy in Active Duty United States Military Women

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this scoping review was to apply the Social Ecological Model for Military Women's Health to literature on unintended pregnancy (UIP) to answer the question: In United States active duty military women (population) with the potential for UIP (context), what is known about risk factors, prevention, and pregnancy outcomes (concepts)?

METHODS

We conducted this review based on a PRISMA-ScR protocol registered a priori in Open Science Framework. Following a literature search of six databases and the grey literature, we used DistillerSR to manage data screening and data charting. The Social Ecological Model for Military Women's Health served as the theoretical framework to chart findings regarding UIP at the individual, microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem levels.

RESULTS

A total of 74 research, review, and grey literature articles met the inclusion criteria. Risk factors included specific demographics, military service, and recent deployment. Prevention included contraceptive practices, access, and education that should take place early in servicewomen's careers and before deployment. Outcomes included early return from deployment, personal career challenges, and seeking alternative health services outside the military health system.

CONCLUSIONS

Research and policy initiatives should focus on decreasing risk factors in the military working environment, with particular attention to the deployed environment. These initiatives should include input from military leaders, health care providers, servicewomen, and servicemen with the goal of decreasing the incidence of unintended pregnancies. Pregnancy intentionality among military women should be considered as a concept to shape intervention research to reduce unintended pregnancies.